The big news in Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) football this season is a different lineup of competitors. MVAL will gain a new team by including Moreau Catholic High School (Hayward) but lose James Logan High School (JLHS) of Union City. The Logan Colts have decided to strike out on their own and compete as an independent team this season. A perennial powerhouse of MVAL, the Logan decision is an effort to mix another level of opponents such as San Ramon Valley in regular season play.

This choice poses a serious dilemma for the squad since as an MVAL team league championships guaranteed entry to post-season play. As an independent however, the Colts rely on entering North Coast Section play as an at-large bye team.

Departure of James Logan alters the dynamics of MVAL substantially and, for the first time in many years, league play will be wide open. The Colts will continue to face local competition during the season, meeting Newark, Washington, Irvington and Mission San Jose to finish their regular schedule.

For those following Logan's experiment as an independent, the Colt schedule includes teams rarely seen locally in regular season action. Their first opponent - Reed - has been ranked in the top 25 teams of the country for the last eight years.